Suddenly, Nina became aware that people were leaving the dance floor. She’d been so lost in memories that she didn’t notice the music had stopped. She eased away, and Reese let her go.
His jaw hardened, and emotion shadowed his dark brown eyes. “Thanks for the dance,” he said huskily.
Nina nodded. “Sure.”
She backed away and then hurried from the dance floor, tossing a weak but reassuring smile at her sister, whose worried eyes followed her across the carpet.
Nina rushed into the bathroom and shut herself in one of the stalls. She leaned back against the door and listened as a woman one stall over hummed a tune, but she didn’t recognize the song. She couldn’t concentrate on anything else because thoughts of Reese filled her head.
Her nipples were tight, and the flesh between her thighs twitched and ached. Closing her eyes, she took two deep breaths. She felt guilty as if she’d done something wrong.
She’d always thought of cheating as the sexual joining of two bodies, but could dirty thoughts be considered cheating? If she wanted a man who wasn’t her boyfriend, if she were wet simply from touching him, did that count as cheating, too?
Chapter 7
“Welcome, my darling!” Sylvie Johnson squeezed both of Nina’s hands between hers as she entered the penthouse.
Nina had run into Reese in the lobby, so he was right behind her.
“Thank you,” Nina said.
She always felt a little intimidated in the presence of Reese’s mother. Sylvie, elegant and beautiful, had a big personality. Nina admired her, but at the same time, didn’t know quite how to take her.
She came from a very wealthy family, but she’d opted not to go into the family business and had built her own empire. Nina longed to be as knowledgeable in business as Sylvie. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the know-how, and her lack of confidence inhibited her from doing better.
“You look lovely. Doesn’t she look lovely, Reese?”
Nina blushed. There was nothing special about the way she’d dressed. She’d purposely kept her outfit simple—jeans and a polka-dot blouse with a high neckline—so as not to draw Reese’s attention. She still felt guilty about what happened at the wedding reception, but she believed much of the problem stemmed from being away from Andy. With him back in town, she expected her attraction to Reese to diminish.
“Yes, she does look lovely,” Reese said.
“And how are you, darling?” Sylvie asked.
“Fine.” Reese gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I’m wearing the diamond ring you bought for my birthday. I love it so much. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Mother.”
Sylvie displayed her fingers to show off a ring with a chocolate diamond to Nina.
“It’s gorgeous,” Nina gushed.
“Yes, it is. However did you know I wanted this? I don’t believe I ever mentioned it to you,” Sylvie said to Reese.
“You must have, and although I’m not perfect, I do pay attention.”
“That you do.” Her gaze rested on Nina again. “Some of my friends complain about their sons and their indifference toward dates of importance, but I have no such complaints. I’m lucky to have two wonderful boys who always remember my birthday and manage to get exactly what I want, every single time, even when I don’t remember discussing those gift choices with them. It’s as if someone else has told them what I wanted.” Sylvie laughed daintily. “Oscar is in the sitting room. Follow me. We can’t wait to hear all about your adventures.”
Stunned, it took several seconds for Nina to follow.
Does she know, she mouthed to Reese.
I don’t know, he mouthed with a worried expression.
Nina stifled a chuckle with her hand.
Wearing tan slacks and a cream blouse with billowy sleeves, Sylvie led them to the sitting room where her husband sat in an armchair, reading a magazine. As soon as he saw them, he stood.
“Nina, it’s good to see you.” Oscar Brooks was a handsome older man with graying hair and light-colored skin and dark eyes in direct contrast to his wife’s dark brown skin and light brown eyes.
His genuine smile warmed her insides as she melted into one of his bear hugs.
“It’s good to see you, too, Mr. Brooks.” Nina sat on the sofa beside Sylvie.
The older woman brushed her long hair over one shoulder and crossed her legs. Reese sat in the other armchair.
“Reese told me you and Andy von Trapp are a couple? Is that correct?”
Get right to business. That didn’t take long. Nina glanced quickly at Reese, whose face remained impassive.
“Yes.”
“And you knew him before you left the country?”
“Actually, no. I’d heard of him and his family but didn’t know them personally, which makes how we met kind of funny. I was doing volunteer work on an organic farm in New Zealand when we ran into each other—if you can believe that.”
“You don’t say. That’s quite a coincidence.”
Was she being sarcastic?
“You probably know his family. They’re in the process of opening a New York office. Now that he’s joined the family business, Andy will be shuttling back and forth between here and there on a regular basis.” At least, that’s what he’d told her, all of which had come as a surprise.
“That’s right. After Andy’s parents divorced, they decided to stay in business together, if I recall,” Sylvie said.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“It was so sad when I heard his mother died. From complications of the flu, of all things.” Sylvie tutted. “Andy’s mother was the real brains of the operation, a shark when it comes to real estate. It’s such a shame that for years she didn’t work outside of the home, at her husband’s insistence. All of that changed when they divorced, of course, and the business started doing much better. Who knows how that business could have flourished if she had been in charge from the beginning? As I understand it, they’re going into resorts now.”
“That’s correct. Before she passed, Andy’s mother planned to take the company in that direction.”
“I see. Tell me, do you plan to work if you and Andy get married?”
“Mother!”
Oscar let out a heavy sigh.
Sylvie looked from one to the other with fake innocence. “I simply asked a question. You don’t mind, do you, Nina?”
“Um…no.”
Nina took a deep breath and prepared to let Reese’s parents know, the same as she’d informed Reese, that her relationship with Andy was solid. If Oscar and Sylvie held onto any idea that she and Reese were getting back together, they needed to rid themselves of that notion right now.
“If Andy and I decide to get married, we’ll work out those issues beforehand. He’s a great guy, very understanding. I’m certain I’ve found my soul mate.”
The room went quiet.
A cool mask slipped over Sylvie’s features. “Is that right?” she asked in a low voice.
Nina nodded and scanned the room. Oscar glanced at Reese, whose jaw had tightened so hard, he might very well grind his molars to dust.
“Well, that’s a shame, isn’t it, Reese?” Sylvie tossed a glance in her son’s direction.
“Not if she’s happy,” Reese said with a tight smile.
“Tell us about your trip,” Oscar interjected, sending a hard look at his wife, which she purposely ignored by dusting nonexistent lint off her pants leg.
Before Nina could answer, the house manager, Trevor, entered the room.
“Brunch is ready,” he announced.
Relieved at the interruption, Nina stood first. They all went into the dining room, where Trevor had prepared a spread that was way too much for four people, with all the food set on elegant white serving dishes—family-style—in the center of the table.
Prosciutto-wrapped pineapple spears shared the table with individual fruit cups. Another plate held buttery croissants, and yet ano
ther contained a loaf of Trevor’s delicious gingerbread coffee cake, four hefty slices already cut into it, which Nina had smelled as soon as she hit the doorway. Creamy egg salad had been scooped onto baguette slices and sprinkled with chives. As if that wasn’t enough, as they settled into their chairs and Nina took a sip of her Bellini, Trevor reappeared with a steaming bowl of freshly made shrimp and grits.
“Bon appétit,” Oscar said, raising his glass.
Nina spent much of the next couple of hours fielding questions from Oscar and Sylvie. She caught them up on her work overseas, the people she met and served in each country, the food she ate, and the two times she’d fallen so ill she’d almost abandoned her plans and returned home for good.
She told them about the hours she spent snorkeling and fishing off the coast of Belize and then grilled the catches of the day with her newfound friends. Despite all the fresh food she ate, she occasionally missed eating a fried chicken plate at her favorite downtown restaurant and missed good ol’ American pizza from Notte, one of her favorite Italian restaurants in the city.
The entire time she talked, she could feel Reese watching her, and each time she glanced at him, he was. For the most part, she kept Andy out of the recounting of her stories and relaxed into the familiarity of people she knew and their welcoming conversation. By the end of the visit, she felt rejuvenated, but a twinge of regret nicked her chest that her relationship with this family was not as close as it used to be.
Finally, she and Reese said their goodbyes and took the elevator toward the first floor.
“That was fun, although the first part of the visit was a little uncomfortable. Your mother wasn’t as subtle as she usually is.”
“When has my mother ever been subtle?”
“True. But she took me by surprise with a few of her comments.”
“All of my siblings are married, and I’ll be thirty soon. The pressure is on.” He kept his eyes on the doors in front of him.
She wanted to respond but held her tongue. Sylvie was wasting her time because Reese had made no secret of the fact that he didn’t want children and didn’t want to get married. He’d made that decision a long time ago when he witnessed his parents’ acrimonious divorce.
She glanced sideways at him but couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. “Are we still going for ice cream?” she asked, in an effort to not only make conversation but leave behind more incendiary topics.
They stepped into the foyer of the building.
“Absolutely. I know how much you love ice cream.” As if he realized his lukewarm attitude toward her gave off a bad vibe, Reese smiled suddenly.
And when he did, her attitude changed. His grin charmed a smile from her lips and eased what little tension existed between them.
Not for the first time, she noted the angles of his face, as if he’d been put together with meticulous care. He was a handsome man, so it was no surprise women flocked to him. Why did she ever think she could keep the attention of a man like this?
“You know me too well,” she said in a low voice, emotional all of a sudden.
The valet pulled up, and Nina stared at the amber-colored Mercedes SUV in disbelief.
“Is this yours? How did you get one?” she demanded.
She’d been on the waiting list for months now, desperate to get one of the limited-edition vehicles when she returned to the States. Each one could be customized to its owner’s specifications. Despite being wealthy, she didn’t usually care about luxuries and could be comfortable almost anywhere. But she was loyal to Mercedes, and when she learned about this special-edition vehicle, she’d wanted one.
“Yes, it’s mine,” Reese said smugly.
“Billionaires suck.”
Technically, Reese wasn’t a billionaire, as he hadn’t received the proceeds from his trust fund yet. On January first, after he turned thirty, he’d receive over a billion dollars in money and assets. He was also an heir to his mother’s multibillion-dollar company, which would make him even richer one day.
Reese laughed. “Don’t hate.” He opened the passenger door to let her in.
“Can I drive?” Nina asked.
“Hell no.”
“Why not?”
“Because you drive like shit. It’s your sole flaw. I’m not risking my new car with you behind the wheel. Come on, let’s go.” He snapped his fingers for her to hurry up.
“I thought when you criticized my driving you were just kidding.” He’d always told her she was an awful driver and refused to ride with her.
“I was dead serious.”
“I’m a great driver,” Nina said, standing a little taller.
“You’re a terrible driver. You drive too fast, and you have a nasty attitude when you’re behind the wheel. We both know that’s why you have a chauffeur. No, you can’t drive my car.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“Believe it.”
“You get on my nerves.”
“Yeah, yeah. Get in.”
Nina climbed in and sat in the car with her arms crossed. She jealously inhaled the new car smell and eyed the sumptuous leather, wood-grain interior, and touch-screen dashboard that controlled everything from the radio to the diagnostics to the Wi-Fi.
When Reese climbed in, he glanced at her, and the right corner of his mouth lifted into a sexy half-smile. “Buckle up and stop pouting.”
She did as he asked but cut her eyes at him, and he laughed.
His laughter was so rich and smooth. So pure and real. As he drove into the street, she experienced an unexpected pull of attraction, a sensation she hadn’t experienced in a long time. A longing, an aching, to just…touch him, to smooth her palm over his short hair or brush her lips to his jaw.
Her breath caught, and she quickly turned away to stare out the window.
That was…unexpected and dangerous. The slight burn in her chest was not new. It had prompted her to kiss him three and a half years ago.
It was familiar. A warning.
A warning that spending time with Reese Brooks was not a good idea.
Chapter 8
Heat hovered over the city, promising a hotter-than-usual summer. Ice cream was an excellent way to cool off in the high temperatures.
Nina ordered two scoops in a cup—dulce de leche and chunky chocolate chip.
“I’ll take strawberry and chocolate,” Reese said from beside her.
“You’re allergic to strawberries. Do not give him strawberry ice cream,” she said to the woman behind the counter.
“You always do this. It’s not like I’ll die. I only break out in hives.”
She waved her hand in his direction as if to say, See? to the clerk.
The woman smiled at Reese. “Since you can’t have strawberry, what other flavors would you like with the chocolate? You can sample any of the others.”
“I want chocolate and strawberry,” he said.
“Reese,” Nina said, turning his name into two syllables.
“I don’t have a lot of choices,” he said.
Nina placed a hand on her hip. “There are literally dozens of choices here, but you’re so picky you refuse to eat anything other than vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry.”
“I don’t need rocks, sticks, and stones in my ice cream.”
Nina rolled her eyes and faced the clerk. “Give him vanilla and chocolate, please.”
“I want chocolate and strawberry,” Reese told the woman, dead serious.
“Do not give him strawberry ice cream.”
Unsure what to do, the clerk smiled uneasily and glanced at the other customers, as if they could rescue her.
Reese sighed. “Since she’s the boss of me, give me vanilla and chocolate.”
“Thank you,” Nina said with a self-satisfied smirk. She scooped a spoonful of dulce de leche in her mouth. The sweet caramel flavor almost made her moan out loud.
“Good?” Reese asked.
“Mmm-hmm.” She dug in for another scoop. “It�
��s sooo g—”
He wasn’t looking at the ice cream. He was looking at her. Or, more specifically, her mouth. Self-consciously, she wiped her tongue over her cool lips.
“Looks good,” he said in a low voice.
Her chest tightened, and she refocused on the dessert, dipping the spoon into one scoop and then the other.
“Here you go.” The clerk handed Reese his order and then rang up the total for both.
He paid, and they left the shop in silence.
On the short walk to Centennial Olympic Park, Reese did most of the talking by catching her up on recent happenings among mutual acquaintances. Nina took that time to reset. Back at the parlor, he’d looked at her in the same way that he’d done in the past. She’d rarely caught a glimpse of that expression in his eyes but knew how to describe it.
Hunger. Nothing but pure, unadulterated hunger. Not for the creamy dessert in her cup. For her.
They arrived at Centennial Olympic Park, a legacy of the 1996 Olympic Games. Twenty-two acres located near other tourist attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the Center for Civil Rights and Human Rights, and the College Football Hall of Fame.
They strolled over to the Fountain of Rings and sat on the long row of cement steps where they had a good view of the kids darting through the water shooting up from the ground. With their parents looking on, some tried in vain to avoid getting wet by running between the streams, while others embraced the fun and took the direct hit, laughing and squawking as they got soaked.
Although Nina had enjoyed her travels, she’d missed her hometown, and scenes like this reminded her of the simple pleasures. She spooned more of the blissful treat into her mouth, which cooled her body in the Atlanta heat.
Reese’s expression softened as he watched the children playing in the water, which made her wonder why he didn’t want any of his own. Was he still utterly opposed to the idea of fatherhood?
She was a daddy’s girl, and after her parents split, she’d always wanted to have a family of her own with both parents in the home instead of what she’d experienced—being shuttled back and forth across town to spend time with one parent or the other, according to court documents.
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